Page 20 of For the Love of the Bull Rider

The camo gear and fake beard on Marty were lost on Tim, but everyone at the party seemed to recognize the costumes, so he laughed along with the crowd before he took a picture of the couple.

Tim walked to a cooler and grabbed a bottle of beer, laughter ringing through the evening air behind him. He popped the cap on the bottle and turned to see a green ball walking into the room. For a minute, he was confused, but when Matt Collins removed his cowboy hat and stepped from behind the couch,Tim was shocked. The man was wearing green tights covered by a green ball for a costume, which was set off by the well-worn cowboy boots. It seemed to be uncharacteristic behavior for the man, according to the stunned expressions on everyone’s faces.

The big cowboy walked over to Tim and smiled, extending his hand. “Hi, Carrot. I’m your pea.”

Before Tim could comment, Josh walked up and grinned as he twirled the fake, handlebar mustache glued above his lip. “Ah, peas and carrots. I suspected somethin’ of the sort.” Without waiting for a response, he walked away leaving Tim to look at Matt Collins and wonder what the hell that was about.

Three hours later, Pea and Carrot were saying goodbye to the guests, making certain the kids had the trick-or-treat goody bags filled with homemade cookies and candy prepared by Miss Jeri earlier in the day. Ryan was still making his ninja moves as Aunt Katie recorded him on the new video camera she’d turned up with, much to Tim’s surprise. He didn’t even think they had a camera, much less a video camera.

Glancing at Matt—who looked so cute dressed as a pea—Tim wasn’t sure what to think about the night. Matt was leaning against the wall, talking to Uncle Josh without a thought to the fact he was wearing green tights and cowboy boots. Tim couldn’t resist taking a quick picture before walking to where they stood.

“How about we change into normal clothes so we can help clean up?” Tim could see Miss Jeri and Aunt Katie running around like crazy, and he knew there were still people hanging around to make it a quick job.

Uncle Josh reached up and ripped off the mustache, releasing a short yelp. “Damn!That hurt. I’m not lettin’ Katie talk me into that crap again. Go change. I’ll start cleanin’ up that cooler on the deck.” Josh grabbed his empty bottle and headed out to the deck where Marty was standing in his street clothes, puffing on a cigar.

Matt took Tim’s hand, which surprised the younger man. When the cowboy led Tim back to the master bedroom where his clothes were folded and waiting on the bed, Tim couldn’t hide the surprise on his face. He’d left his clothes in Ryan’s bedroom when he’d changed.

“How’d my clothes—”

“I brought them in here earlier. We need to talk, okay? You can change first.” Matt pointed to the bathroom.

Tim gathered his clothes, closing the bathroom door before turning to gaze into the mirror. His eyebrows were up near his hairline and didn’t seem as if they’d ever come down. The night had been one surprise after another.

“How’d you let that kid talk you into dressing like a damn carrot? What the hell were you thinking?” Tim asked himself the question out loud as he pulled off the Velcro straps that held the costume together.

Once it was off, Tim slipped out of the tights, glad theboyshad a little more room to move around. He quickly dressed in the long-sleeved, western shirt and jeans from earlier in the day before he walked out, socks in hand. His boots were still in the hallway tray.

“So, how much is left—” Tim stopped talking when he saw he was alone as he entered the kitchen. He glanced toward the back deck to see nobody there either. The great room was empty, and Tim suddenly felt he was in a science-fiction movie where he was the last man on earth.

Since he was alone, he started picking up orange cups and matching paper plates to carry into the kitchen. He found a trash can under the sink and took it with him to continue the cleanup.

Where had Ryan disappeared to? It was only nine, and Tim doubted the boy would be ready to settle down for the night, given the amount of candy he’d covertly consumed all evening.

Tim wasn’t sure where everyone had gone, but he decided to make quick work of the mess before he went out to the little truck he’d…fuck! Heremembered he’d ridden to the ranch with Matt and Ryan to help decorate after the trip to Walmart. As he looked out onto the driveway, he saw the cars and trucks were gone as well.

When Matt returned to the kitchen, he was dressed in a pair of worn jeans and a faded, teal T-shirt that happened to highlight his dark hair and bright blue eyes. For a moment, Tim was stuck in place.Matt Collins is so fucking handsome…He was snapped from his gawking when the man spoke.

“Um, Ryan went home with Momma and Daddy. I had a conversation with Momma last night, and I’m happy to say she was very supportive of me. Actually, Momma didn’t seem too surprised, but that’s a worry for another day.

“I talked to Josh this afternoon, and I asked him if he’d loan you out for a bit. You can still work for him from here because I have Wi-Fi—well, the guy told me I have it. I have a new computer I don’t know how to work yet, but I hoped you could help me figure it out. I’d like to have you spend time here, helpin’ me set up an operation like you did for Josh. He says it’s helped him, and I’m sure you can see I need all the help I can get.”

Matt seemed a little apprehensive to ask, but based on Tim’s severe ass-chewing fit when the man hadn’t been available to pick up his own son from school, it was really no surprise.

“Matt, I don’t—”

“Please, Tim, give me a shot. I know I’ve been runnin’ ya in circles, but I’ve finally got myself figured out. I’m a gay man in a business not exactly acceptin’ of my orientation, but if I provide first-class stock, it shouldn’t matter to the buyer who I choose to snuggle up with when I watch TV.

“I’m not gonna hide anymore. I just can’t do it and be the man I need to be. I’d appreciate it if you’d help me out herewith things I need regardin’ the business, but more importantly, would you consider havin’ dinner with me and Ryan? I mean, you and mearepeas and carrots.” Matt’s face lit up at his own joke as he took Tim’s hand.

Tim was completely stumped, but when Matt pulled him close and kissed him softly, Tim couldn’t believe it was real. Against his better judgment, Tim was sucked back into Matt Collins’ orbit.

The cowboy was amazing, but he wasn’t without flaws. Tim knew it, but he was still diving in, headfirst. If Matt wanted to date him? Well, Tim couldn’t find it inside himself to turn the man down.

Tim giggled and stared at the cowboy. “Peas and carrots, huh? Well, when you put it like that,Forrest, how can I say no? Dinner with you and Ryan sounds great. Let me know when and where. In the meantime, I need to get back to Katydid. Do I gotta walk?” Tim gave Matt a shy smile.

Matt grinned and leaned forward to nip Tim’s neck. “I’ll take ya home. We can work this as slow as you wanna, hon, but eventually, I’m gonna live up to the idea of the man you could love. I wanna be the man you expect me to be.” Matt seemed steadfast in his admission, which touched his heart.

Tim’s face flushed, though he wasn’t sure why. He wrapped his arms around Matt’s shoulders before he pulled the man down for another soft kiss. He quickly became the aggressor, however, sweeping his tongue over Matt’s lips, and when he opened his mouth to suck Tim’s tongue inside, it was like going to heaven.

---